gloriajames's travel reports

An Egyptian Adventure at Sinai and Red Sea Coast

Egypt is not all about Pharaohs, pyramids and ancient monuments. You can trek and climb the Sinai mountains, and enjoy the sun, sea and sand from the Sinai desert to the turquoise clear waters of the Red Sea – the new adventure paradise and playground.

view of the scene from Conrad Resort Hotel

A six hours’ drive from Cairo will take you through the Suez Canal and into the Sinai Peninsula with a scenic coastal drive along the Red Sea.

There is much history surrounding this region, from the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 to the take over of the Sinai Peninsula by Israel and finally returned to Egypt after the signing of a peace treaty in 1982. Thereafter tourism boomed in this region making Sinai and the Red Sea Coast a popular tourist destination.

Much about the region of Sinai was first made known to me from my reading of the Old Testament (Bible) which tells you of the parting of the Red Sea, the exodus and wandering of children of Israel in Egypt, receiving the laws from GOD and most importantly of the escape and journey of the Holy Family (ie Joseph, Mary and Jesus) to Egypt. Sinai is regarded as Egypt’s Holy Land and followers of Christianity, Judaism and Islam had over thousands of years, crossed this vast wilderness and desert to pay homeage to Moses' land.

As the Sinai area is not well developed, most tourists stay at the reasonable priced accommodation available at the St Catherine’s Protectorate.

So what is there to see and do at Sinai?? Well, many prepare themselves to climb the 2,286m tall MOUNT SINAI (also known as MOUNT MOSES) where Moses received two tablets upon which God had inscribed the Ten Commandments, as well as precise dimensions for the Arc of the Covenant, a portable box-like shrine that would contain the tablets.

If you are gamed for the ascent, be prepared to wake up at about 1am and brave the climb at sub-zero temperature with a Bedouin Mountain Guide to assist. Must add that you will be rewarded with the spectacular morning sunrise after your 3,700 steps by foot on the ‘Stairs of Repentance’.

Perch yourself near the Chapel of the Holy Trinity built in 1934, situated at the summit which offers breathtaking views of the areas around Mt Sinai and Mt Catherine.

Favourite spots:

St Catherine's Monastery

Head to the ST CATHERINE’S MONASTERY, a formidable fortification, with granite walls measuring 8m by 35m tall, surrounded by gardens and cypresses and situated at an altitude of 4,854 feet at the foot of Mount Moses, making it very picturesque indeed!

Constructed by the order of the Emperor of Justinian between 527 and 565 AD., wait for the doors to open at 9am for you to explore the oldest Christian monastery in the world.

You will notice an evergreen bush with a chapel built around it. Your Guide will point out to you that this is the ‘Burning Bush’. This was where Moses came upon a burning bush that was, miraculously, unconsumed by its own flames. A voice speaking out of the fire (Book of Exodus 3:1-13 of the Old Testament) commanded him to lead his people out of bondage in Egypt and return with them to the mountain. If you have read the Bible or seen the classic movie starring Charlton Heston who played Moses, you will recall that this site was where GOD spoke to Moses.

What's really great:

marine life at the red sea

The sight that awaits you once the Sinai Desert comes to an abrupt end at the Red Sea is the breathtaking view of the coastal resort town of SHARM EL-SHEIKH. This is a world-acclaimed dive centre and playground of divers and snorkellers. The exquisite coral reefs are among the best in the world and the Red Sea has one of the highest amounts of marine life.

I stayed at the luxurious Conrad Resort and is situated quite close to numerous dive sites within Sharm el-Sheikh, including the huge drop-offs at Ras Mohammed in the extreme southern part of the peninsula.

If you wish to learn to dive, head on to Naama Bay which has a gently sloping sandy bottom, ideal for dive classes, and provides diving and snorkelling opportunities for all levels.

If you are not a swimmer, get onboard the glass-bottom boat and view the coral and marine life with ease.

If all that fails, head to Naama Bay for endless hours of shopping or simply chill out at the beach.

Sights:

casino

Highly recommended things to do:-

1. Get up at 4.30am and take a quad bike ride to the rugged mountain side near the coast and make a stop at a Bedouin Village to have a cuppa whilst you welcome the morning sunrise. Learn and soak in the Bedouin culture and their way of life.

2. Spend the rest of your day chilling out or simply working out your tan.

3. When the sun set, soak in the vibrant nightlife at the Hard Rock Café, or discos or nightclubs.

4. If you are feeling lucky, go on and gamble the night away at the Sinai Casino.

5. Venture further ie about 1 hour's drive to the COLOURED CANYONS of Sinai to view and marvel at the serene desert formations.

6. Between the St Catherine Protectorate and the Red Sea Coast lies the Oasis of Wadi Feiran. This valley is filled with shady palms and is believed to be the place mention in the Book of Exodus.

I simply loved my stay here in this resort with 37 acres of landscaped gardens, fronting a stretch of over 5249 metres of pristine beaches, at the sea coast area of Ras Nosrani Bay. Situated right off the shore is the most magnificent underwater life for snorkelling and diving. The hotel is also located across from Tiran Island, an area considered one of the best diving spots in the world.

The in-house restaurants at Conrad provided a lavish spread for all meals. The in-house restaurant at Morgen, though it was just average, on the whole i enjoyed the music and interaction with my fellow travellers under a Beoudin tent!

Other recommendations:

Chapel on Mt Sinai

Thought to share:-

Wonder why the monastery is named after Saint Catherine? It has been said that when the saint died about 305 AD, about five hundred years later, a monk had a vision of the saint's body being carried away by angels, and that it was left intact at the top of the peak that now bears her name. The saint’s relics are stored in a marble reliquary in the Basilica within the monastery. Run by the Greek Orthodox Church, the monastery houses an extensive collections of early Christian icons and manuscripts.